Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-31
TEDDY BURKE.

greatest freedom. over SHIT u VII
bleached cotton, two pieces OF tarreo rope
acted in lieu of suspenders, holding up pair
of tronsars made for an adult. They were
rolled ND at the bottoms, displaying two
srur,iy LEGS tanned and dirty, Scared with
hard knocks and slivers from tile wharves-
The wearer Of all this toggery was boy
snnareptly II years old. After executing
his iie he stood Oh one foot, thrust grlmy
hand into pocket and drew out handful
of pennies, which he proceeded to count.
Deere, huff fur four WORKS and tin suns.
Ki. but I'm late dis morninL
He replaced the pennies in his pocket and
started toward Whitehall street. When he
reached it he stopped TO look at some horses
standing at Hamilton ferry waiting tor the
gate to open.
al guess dem is torobredS,n he soliloquized,
and turned TO go up town and purchase his
n,pers. when one Of the men in charge OF the
horses shouted: Hello, there, you boy. Do
you want JobF
"Betcher life, retorted the boy.
well come over here I'll give you 81 to
ride one of these horses and lead two more to
Sheepshsad Bay, and pay your fare back"
Oats a whack." said he. and giving a leg
to the man was hoisted on the back OF race
horse In transit from Baltimore 60 Sleeps
bead Bay track.
The Journey was an uneventful one in one
sense and an eventful one in another. The
bow was asked his name and he gave it.
Teddy Burke was nil the name he knew OF.
though it might have been anything eise, as
he didn't remember his father or mother.
Il, l., for ltt-lDt ~ asked tina
trainer, who rode alongside.
Al sills papers and does anything what | can
fur to make a few cints. sleep in de dock.
"How would you like to lie a stable boy and
learn to be a jockey Kindly asked his en-
pluyer
"Jus' as leave do that as not Any money
in itaa
an give you s. a week and board, and by
and by, when you learn to ride, you can
make hundreds OF dollars in a week"
"Je whizm
-Yes; have known jockeys to get 5000
for winning one race"
go on. Watcher givin' me. Tink I'm
fooIf'
"Ha! halT laughed johnson, for that was
the trainers name. "You be q good boy,
y, II
when you get the dirt washed off, and suit
of store clothes on, that you will be differ
emit boy. Ever ride a horse before:"
"No; never did
lyon ride well. You sit like born
jockey"
-Bedad, l hev to. l can't get down widout
breakin' me neck
Thus was Teddy engaged as a stable boy
He had never been over to Brooklyn but
once, and then he only went up town as far
as the City hall and didn't think it half as
nice as the City Hall park in New York But
on this beautiful May morning be saw the
budding, poisoning and leafng Of trees,
and, as they neared Gravesend, the farmers
early at work in the fields, the waving masses
OF garden truck, and the fresh scent of the
grass All was new, like to an UNEMPLOYED
world to him. The boy had a touch of
poetry in his soul, for more than once he
pulled in his horse that he might enjoy some
particularly fine aspect of nature, saying to
himself: II could always live here wild de
grass an de flowers. Dey're nicer nor dey
are in New York"
In due time they arrived at Sheepshead
bay track. The string of sixteen horses were
cozily quartered iii the model sheds, given
their feed, and then johnson turned and said
kindly: "Come on, bub. We will tackle our
fodder now
But Teddy did not stir. There was a
troubled look in his eyes. johnson turned
again and asked, a little impatiently: "What
you thinking about2 Come on and eat"
4 forgot me pard, boss"
Your pard"
"Yis, boss Larry Flanagan is me pard
He's lame, Larry is; and durn if didn't for
git him. | mus 60 back"
See here, Teddy, I've taken liking to
you, and want to keep you. You're better
off with me, my boy, than knocking around
III the city. Can Larry do anythingP
He sills papers at de ferry, boss. He's my
pard. buys de papers and de grub, and
goes snacks wild him. He amt got no farder
nor uludder, needer"
"I'll tell you what you do, Teddy Here's
Sc. Get on the train aud go to New York.
Find Larry and come back the way You
thing for him 10 do
'Thankee, boss. YOU'RE a brick"
This compliment probably pleased Mr.
johnson more than any he had ever received,
for be knew that II came from the boys
heart At O'Clock on that day, when the
trainer visited his stable, there were Terry
and Larry, the latter much the same as
Teddy in his habilafn-nts. Their faces shone
with soap and water. johnson showed than
where to make their beds and where they
would get their meals Thus Teddy's life
changed from a newsboy to a stable boy In
d few days he was home in the saddle He
always rode hereheaded. and stood the iibes
of his companinns good naturally, sometimes
giving them taste of sharp Irish wit that
showed his mettle He was an adept at pitch
ing PENNIES, and smoked cigarette through
his nose with all the grace Of dude A prime
favorite with his employer, he was taught
how to ride, and the dream of his life was to
he a jockey, ride in race and hear the
plaudits of the multitude as he piIoted his
horse to victory He eonfided his ambition
to Larry, who sighed, and. with tear trer-
bling on his lashes, would nIurulur: # wish
! could ride Teddy
Then Teddy would put his freckled arm
around LaiTy's neck aud say consolingly
Never you mind Larry. Whin I'm g JOCK
de fust hundred / git will take you ter de
doctors an I'll get them legs o. yourp
straight, an thin ye can ride me pard. 81
cheer up"
And then Larry would smile and dream
over what be thought was too good to bs
true
Time passed on and the day for q great
race came The trains from BROOKLYN and
the boats from New York were crowded with
thousands on pleasure bent The grand
stand, Respondent in new paint, was crowded
with wealth, fashion and beauty The book
makers states were up The auctioneer was
loudly and rapidly selling pools, and in the
grounds the crowd surged to and fro and out.
grew itself into the paddock and out to the
green infield. Teddy saw all this, and it was
wonderful. His work was done. Larry bad
been perched on top of the stable and Teddy
had gone with his employer to learn how q
race was started The first two races were
contested by second class horses, and not
much enthusiasm was expressed. Yet Teddy
when he saw the satisfied smile on the sue
cessful Jockeys face, thought: "Gollyl if da
was only me-"
At last the bell rang to call the sixteel
sleek coated, beautiful animals who were {,
contest In the great race, not one of which
did not carry hoard of money with which
its owner had backed him to win Tn
Jockeys, gay with their new silk and satil
colors, the horses groomed to perfection, tn
sun CHANGING from their polished coats lik
unto FURNISHED shield, the wild applaus
that went up from the mad throng as som
1aVorite galloped by or some well know
Jockey was recognized, was great experienc
TO Teddy. His heart throbbed with exulta
ton as he thought of the time when he woult